Reversible-fulcrum arrangement



W. C. HEDGCOCK.

REVERSIBLE FULCRUM ARRANGEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-8. 1921.

Patented Aug. 15, 1922.

UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM C.. HEDGCOCK, OF CHICAGO. ILLINOXS, ASSIGNOB- 'IO AMERICAN STEEL IOUNDBIES, OF CHICAGU, ILLINGIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

REVERSIBLE-FULCRUM ARRANGEMENT.

To oll 'whom it may coqwern:

=Be it known that 1., WILLIAI-i \J. HEDG coon, aizitizen of the United States, residing atOhica-go, in the county of- Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reversible-Fulc'ruzv. Arrangements, of which the following is a. specifieationr.

-Thi's iJ-ivenition-relates to a reversible fulorirm ari'angement and isa modification of that Sl'lOWIls2lI1 my co-pending application,

' Serial Number 459,790, filed April 8. 1921.

.- =Diie objeebof my invention 'is to provide a one piece revensiblefulerum which is simple andid-urable in construction, efficient "incp'ei'ation andadapted to meet all the requirements for successfulcommercial use.

:Ariother object-is'toprovide asiinple and efficient lockin connection between the coinpre'mi'on member of a brake beam and a fulcrum.

These and other objects are accomplished by means of the arrangement disclosed on the accompanying sheci of drawings. in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a brake beam and fulcrum embodying my invention:

Figure 2 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the intermediate part of a brake beam and the rear of the fulcrum;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the same arrangement;

Fio ure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of t e fulcrum showing the compression member of the brake beam in section; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 55 of Figure 4.

The invention is illustrated in connection with a brake beam of the truswd type having a compression member 10, a tension member 11 and my improved reversible fulcrum 12 interposed therebetween. The rear end of the fulcrum 12 is provided with a banded portion 13 which surrounds 0r enibraces the compression member 10, the upper and lower portions of the band l3 having V-shaped walls 14 and 15 for respectively engaging the upper and lower flanges Hi and 17 of the compression member for limiting the reversible movements of the rerrisi -le fulcrum 12, In this particular instance a rear wall 18 of the band 13 is pivotallv rounected to the web 19 of the compression member by a rivet 20, but any other suitable pivotal connection may be used.

it is desirable to provide means which Specification Letters Patent. Paig ted A 15. 1922,

Application filed August a, 1821. Serial No.'490,49'7.

will firmly clamp and lock the reversible fid- -ru m in its different operative positions with respect to the compression member. To this end the rear end of the main portion of the fulcrum 12 is provided with a projection 21 extending rearwirclly toward the web or rear ,wall 19 of the compression liiefflljel. This projection has formedat its sides, or is bounded by inclined wedg'eways 22, 23, 2% and 25. leaving the mainprojection 21 extending outwardly beyond said wedge-ways. These wedge-ways are arrangefi in a diamond shape, the wedge-ways 22 and: 9-3

having their highest portions at the r'ght hand ends thereof and the wedge-aways 2 and 25 having their highest portions at the upper ends thereof as ,viewed in Figure 5. C0-01)elating-with the wedge ways and with the compression member OIZSQGUIl-Dg'l and locking the fulcrum to the compression memher, a wedge-key 26 is provided. This wedge-key has a main web portion 27 which, at one end, terminates in a head 28 and at the other end in two ton ues 29 and 30, which tongues when the we ge-key is driven home may be bent over into a position for locking the wedge-key against accidental removal. At the upper and lower edges of the wedge key there are formed wedge-shaped flanges 31 and 32 which, when the wedge is in wedging and locking position, occupy the wedgeways 22 and 23 with the inner surfaces of the wedges 31 and 32 engaging the adjacent side walls of the wed e-ways 22 and 23 or of the projection 21. ese wedge shaped flanges 31 and 32 when in securing position engage the floor of the wedge-ways 22 and 23 and also the inner edges of the flanges 16 and 17 of the compression mem her. On the opposite side of the main web 27 of the wedge-key 26 flanges 33 and 34 are provided which engage the flanges 16 and 17 of the compression member and co operate with the wedge-shaped flanges 31 and 32 for positively locking the fulcrum in either of its two operative positions.

To reverse the fulcrum it is merely nee cSsar); in straighten out the tongues 29 or 'M and withdraw the \vedgedrey. It will be understood that when the ful rum is locked in a position reversed from that shown in the figures of the drawings, the wedge shaped flanges 3i and 32 of the wedgekey 2fwill occupy wedge-ways 24. and 25 of the fulcrum.

The front end of the fulcrum 12 is pro "ided with two fingers which are shaped and 'spa'ced 'from each other in aflman'nerto permit the fulcrum to be reverse'cl'fii'it hout any binding action between the fulcrum and the tension rod 11.

It is my intention to cover all modifications of the invention herein disclosed which do not depart from the spiritend scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An integrally formed reversible brake beam fulcrum ineludin'ga banded end for the reception of a"eom1;'resSionmember, the front Waller" said bended portion havin a projection bounde'dby inclined Wedgeeivays, and a wedge key having flanges co opeiable with said Wedge-'ways'and the compression member for locking'the'fulorum in itsdi fi en en't operative positions.

2. An integrally formed reversible-brak beam fulcrum includingenehdportion tor embracing a compression rhembe'nthe firont wall of said embracing portion having :a projection at the sides of "which inclined wedge-ways are -formed, and a Wedge key having wedge-shaped flanges oo opereble with said wdge-Ways and the oomp ressi n member for 'se'cu'ringthe ful crumin its different Uperfitive positions.

3. An integrallv formed reversible brake beam fulcrum inc' ud'in'g an end portion for embracing a compression member; the front wall of which portion having a projection with inc'IinedWed'ge-ways extending rearwardly from the end of the projection, and a wedge-key having wedge-shaped flange-s occupying said wedge-Ways and adapted to wedge in between the fulcrum and portions of the compression member for securing the fulcrum in its different operative positions.

4. An integrzilly -formed reversible brake beam fulcrum including an end portion for embracinge compression member. the front wall of which portion having a projection with inclined wedge-ways extending rearwardl from the end of the projection, and a wed ge-key'having Wedge-shaped flanges occupying said wedge-Waysand adapted to wedge in between thefulcrum and portions of the compression member for securing the fulcrum in its'difierent operative positions, said wedge key also having flanges associated with the compression member co-operating'to lock the fulcrum in its different operative positions.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 2nd day of August, 1921.

WILLIAM C. HEDGCO-CK. 

